trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtri(l)-yən 

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times one billion see Table of Numbers

2

: an indeterminately large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

trillion adjective

trillionth

ˈtri(l)-yən(t)th 

adjective or noun

Examples of trillion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meta, Google, OpenAI, and others are betting that whoever achieves this breakthrough first could dominate markets worth trillions. —ArsTechnica, 1 Aug. 2025

If successful, this could dramatically accelerate settlement times, lower capital requirements for traders, and enhance market efficiency, positioning Circle to earn fees on trillions in global equity, bond, and derivatives transactions. —Roomy Khan, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025

Musk is seeking to spend trillions—and risk human lives—to demonstrate his own. —Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 28 July 2025

That balance sheet exploded in size during the Great Financial Crisis and COVID-19 pandemic as the Fed bought trillions of dollars of bonds to prop up the economy. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from tri- + -illion (as in million)

First Known Use

1690, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for trillion

• billion
• million
• pillion
• castilian
• civilian
• cotillion
• pavilion
• postilion
• quadrillion
• reptilian
• vermilion
• vermillion

Kids Definition

trillion

noun

tril·​lion ˈtril-yən 

1

: a number equal to 1,000 times one billion see number

2

: a very large number

a trillion mosquitoes out tonight

trillion adjective

trillionth

-yən(t)th 

adjective

trillionth noun